System and method of identifying and visually representing adjustable data

1. In a data visualization system, on an electronic computing device, having a display device, a method of creating a visual representation of data, the method including the steps of:

providing instructions to an end user on the display device to assist the end user in constructing at least one graphical representation of multiple business objectives as multiple functions of available metrics based on data retrieved from a data storage module in communication with the data visualization system, where each graphical representation is one of a predefined type;

constructing the least one graphical representation of the multiple business objectives as multiple functions of available metrics based on the data retrieved from a data storage module in communication with the data visualization system, the data retrieved including variable data and non-variable data, wherein each graphical representation includes multiple data elements, each data element plotted using at least one data point, each data point plotted based on the multiple business objectives as multiple functions of available metrics based on the data retrieved;

arranging the least one graphical representation of different types within the visual representation;

displaying the visual representation on the display device;

determining one or more data elements within the least one graphical representation that are based on variable data;

displaying within the at least one graphical representation the one or more determined data elements on the display device in a form that is different from the data elements that are not based on variable data and that identifies that one or more data elements are based on variable data and that indicates the end user may adjust the associated variable data by moving a data point of the data element within the at least one graphical representation using an input device;

detecting the movement of a data point and adjusting the associated variable data on the detection of the movement of a data point; and

refreshing the at least one graphical representation of multiple business objectives as multiple functions of available metrics based on the data on the display device based on the adjustment of the associated variable data such that all data points in the data elements that are caused to change due to the adjustment of the associated variable data are displayed in new positions in the visual representation.

2. The method of claim 1 further including the step of determining the adjustment of the variable data by detecting signals received from an input device used by the end user.

3. The method of claim 2 further including the step of detecting the identification of a region within the graphical representation via signals received from the input device used by the end user.

4. The method of claim 3 further including the step of detecting the selection of variable data within the identified region via signals received from the input device used by the end user.

5. A data visualization system for creating a visual representation of data, the system including

a processor device;

a memory device;

a display device;

a data storage module in communication with the data visualization system;

a data retrieval module executable by the processor device arranged to retrieved data stored on the memory device from the data storage module in communication with the graphical visualization system, the data retrieved including variable data;

an instruction providing module executable by the processor device arranged to provide instructions to an end user on a display device to assist the end user in constructing at least one graphical representation of multiple business objectives as multiple functions of available metrics based on the retrieved data, wherein each graphical representation is one of a predefined type and includes multiple data elements plotted using at least one data point, each data point plotted based on the multiple business objectives as multiple functions of available metrics based on the retrieved data;

a graphical visualization module executable by the processor device arranged to arrange the at least one graphical representation of different types within the visual representation;

a display module executable by the processor device arranged to display the visual representation on a display device;

a determination module executable by the processor device arranged to determine one or more data elements within the at least one graphical representation that is based on variable data,

the display module executable by the processor device further arranged to display the one or more determined data elements on the display device in a form that is different from the data elements that are not based on variable data and that enables the end user to adjust the variable data upon which the one or more determined data elements are based using an input device by moving a data point of the data element within the at least one graphical representation;

an adjustment detection module executable by the processor device arranged to detect movement of a data point and to adjust the associated variable data on detection of movement of a data point; and

the display module executable by the processor device further arranged to refresh the at least one graphical representation of multiple business objectives as multiple functions of available metrics based on the retrieved data on the display device based on the detected adjustment of the variable data such that all data points in the data elements that are caused to change due to the adjustment of the associated variable data are displayed in new positions in the visual representation.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the adjustment detection module executable by the processor device is further arranged to determine the adjustment of the variable data by detecting signals received from the input device used by the end user.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the adjustment detection module executable by the processor device is further arranged to detect the identification of a region within the graphical representation via signals received from the input device used by the end user.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the adjustment detection module executable by the processor device is further arranged to detect the selection of variable data within the identified region via signals received from the input device used by the end user.

9. One or more non-transitory computer readable media storing computer-usable instructions that, when used by a computing device, causes the computing device to implement the method of claim 1 .